England get their summer Test campaign underway with a three-match series against New Zealand. With England sitting just above the Kiwis in the World Test rankings, it should be a closely contested series with the hosts looking to bounce back after a disappointing performance in the Ashes over the winter. The pressure was eased slightly on head coach Brendon McCullum after reaching the final of the T20 World Cup. However, they will be desperate to get back to winning ways in the Test arena, starting at Lord’s on Thursday. New Zealand’s Test side are in fine fettle having won their last five. The first Test is a tricky one to predict, so I have stayed away from betting on the result. There are plenty more betting options, and I have placed a 6/1 bet builder based on player performance.
TL;DR – England vs New Zealand 1st Test Betting Tips
| Market | Odds at bet365 | Points |
|---|---|---|
| JG Bethell to Score 30+ Runs | 2/9 | 1.5 |
| DP Conway to Score 30+ Runs | 1/5 | 1 |
| NG Smith Top New Zealand 1st Innings Bowler | 15/4 | 1 |
| Bet Builder | 6/1 | 1 |
Odds correct at 10:53 on 02/06/2026. Odds subject to change.
No Expiry Date
I have looked into the performance of both sides and the individual players over the last 12 months as well as diving into historical stats to find three great value bets to make up my 6/1 treble. I have gone with bet365, one of the best betting sites in the UK, due to the markets they offer, the quality of their odds and the availability of a cricket bet builder.
JG Bethell to Score 30+ Runs
Jacob Bethell’s performance in the fifth Ashes Test was a plus point in a disappointing winter tour down under for England. Bethell hit 154 off 265 balls in the 2nd innings at the SCG to record his maiden ton in Test and first-class cricket. The 22-year-old has averaged 43.27 with the bat in six Test matches. Bethell was forced to leave the IPL early with a finger injury, however, he should be fit for the first Test and I back him to continue his impressive start to all forms of international cricket by notching at least 30 runs.
DP Conway to Score 30+ Runs
Devon Conway has an average of 43.67 in Test Cricket. He hit three Test centuries in 2025 and, although he only managed to score four runs in the convincing win over Ireland, I back him to perform well against England. Conway made his Test debut against England and a superb 200 saw him record the highest score by a Test debutant in England and become the 12th man to score a century on his debut for the Black Caps. He has a Test average of 43.30 against England, which, if you take out the double century on his debut, still works out at 25.89. I am confident that he will score over 30 in the first Test.
NG Smith Top New Zealand 1st Innings Bowler
Nathan Smith’s brand of seam and swing bowler is suited to the conditions in England. Smith took eight wickets in the victory over Ireland last week, including a triple wicket maiden, and back in 2024 took seven wickets over two Tests against England. Smith has enjoyed success in English County Cricket, performing well for Worcestershire and Surrey. After his success in Ireland, he is likely to be called upon in the first innings as Matt Henry and Will O’Rourke, who were rested last week, are eased back in. I back him to be New Zealand’s top bowler in the first innings at the Home of Cricket this week.
My 6/1 England vs New Zealand Bet Builder is Live
I have placed my 6/1 bet builder with on of the leading UK cricket apps, bet365. Best of luck if you’re going for any of the singles or for the treble. Remember to gamble responsibly.
England vs New Zealand: 1st Test Odds
Check out the latest odds from the UK’s top cricket bookies.
